Word: hilarion
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...hunchbacked King Gama (Kenneth Bamberger) steals the spotlight in the prologue when he limps on stage to explain that Ida has run out on her engagement to Prince Hilarion. His amusing gestures and grimaces demonstrate why he has been the mainstay of several Harvard Gilbert and Sullivan Players' shows. Bamberger most recently starred as King Pooh-Ba in the fall production of The Mikado...
Into this all-female environment (in Princess Ida a hen, instead of a rooster, crows in the morning) comes Hilarion (Jose Alberto Calvo). Sadly, it becomes clear that Hilarion deserves Ida. While his rich voice is well suited to Sullivan's opera-style music, Calvo mangles Gilbert's complex lyrics beyond recognition. His voice sounds nice, but it would be nice to know what he is saying...
Luckily for the audience, Hilarion usually appears in the company of the courtiers Cyril (Arthur Fuscaldo) and Florian (Steven Mooradian). And unlike Hilarion, the two of them are hilarious. When the trio dress up in ruffled academic gowns and pose as women, merriment overflows. Cyril in particular is a joy to watch as he hops, skips and boozes his way around the castle. In Cyril's company, Lady Psyche (Lisa Harris) recovers from a lackluster entrance scene and provides her mate-to-be with amusing counterpoint...
...multi-level set lets more actors to fit on the Agassiz's stage, and the costumes are pretty. In one nice touch, when Hilarion, Cyril and Florian crossdress, their ruffles match the gowns of their love interests. Something, however, went wrong with the choreography. Virtually all of the female chorus members move stiffly, as if they can only bend at the waist. They look odd and distract attention from the main action...
Moreax as Prince Hilarion sings well, and hams up his lines, but suffers by comparison to both Meridith and his Princess. Margery Hellmold, in the title role, possesses the stage from the moment of her entrance--but overplays her lament after her women have betrayed her, suggesting some sort of pseudo. Wagnerian melodrama. Douglas Freeman, as Hilarion's father, and Melody Scheiner, as Ida's lieutenant, both display the necessary gravity and force of will. Lisa Zeidenberg and Debra Staniunas, in the parts of female undergraduates, add a charming note of whimsy to their surrender to the unfair...